Muhammad Yunushttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/taxonomy/term/55/all
enThe Time to Defend Grameen Bank is Nowhttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/time-defend-grameen-bank-now
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Todd Bernhardt is Director of Marketing and Communications at Grameen Foundation.</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/microsavings" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">microsavings</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Sat, 04 Aug 2012 12:36:15 +0000stoptime2521 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgGrowth for All: Including the Poor in Strategies for Economic Growthhttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/growth-all-including-poor-strategies-economic-growth
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Michael Castellano is a graduate student at The George Washington University, studying International Affairs and Development. He interned with <a href="http://www.bankerswithoutborders.com/" target="_blank">Bankers without Borders</a><sup>®</sup> at Grameen Foundation during the spring of 2012.</em></p>
<p>In the years following the global financial crisis, politicians and policymakers across the globe have harped on one cardinal goal: economic growth. Without a doubt, plans for growing the economy will dominate discussions in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. It seems as though we as a society have collectively determined that if only the economy would turn around, conditions would certainly improve across the board. If only we could enact legislation to spur economic growth, inevitably we would all be better off.</p>
<p>Fortunately, statistics show that the United States has seen steadily climbing annual growth rates since the nadir of the “Great Recession.” Developing countries and emerging economies have, on the whole, experienced average growth rates of more than 5 percent thus far in 2012 and will continue to propel the world’s progress, according to financial forecasts. So – this is good news for everyone, right?</p>
<p>Not necessarily.</p>
<p>Although a country’s national economy may grow, the poorest of the poor often remain completely disconnected from the financial, political and social systems in place. Without active bank accounts, the poor cannot easily save or access other financial services. In rural villages, people may not have easy access to healthcare and can quickly fall victim to external shocks such as disease or natural disaster. Without these services, poor people around the world cannot reap the benefits of overall economic growth.</p>
<p>During my time at Grameen Foundation and through my studies in International Development during this past year, one fundamental lesson has stood out: Though economic growth is certainly important, growth does little to reduce poverty if the poor lack access to essential services. This illustrates a key principle that development practitioners dub “pro-poor growth.”</p>
<p>[caption id="attachment_2143" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://grameenfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/michael-castellano.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2143" title="Michael Castellano" src="http://grameenfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/michael-castellano.jpg?w=300" alt="Michael Castellano served as an intern at Grameen Foundation this spring." width="300" height="203" /></a> Michael Castellano, shown here during a trip to Australia, served as an intern at Grameen Foundation this spring.[/caption]</p>
<p>Pro-poor growth involves forming development policies and strategies that target the poorest of the poor and offer new ways of connecting them to financial markets. Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Prize laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, stated, “The direct elimination of poverty should be the objective of all development aid. Development should be viewed as a human rights issue, not as a question of simply increasing the gross national product.”</p>
</div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/healthcare" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">healthcare</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/mobile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mobile</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/sustainable-development" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">sustainable development</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 31 May 2012 18:31:11 +0000stoptime2503 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgDavid Roodman Does His "Due Diligence," and Gets it Mostly Righthttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/david-roodman-does-his-due-diligence-and-gets-it-mostly-right
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Alex Counts is president, CEO and founder of Grameen Foundation, and author of several books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Small-Loans-Big-Dreams-Microfinance/dp/0470196327?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1206734471&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance are Changing the World</a>.</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/microsavings" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">microsavings</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/mobile" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">mobile</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-5" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/social-performance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social performance</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-6" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:23:22 +0000stoptime2484 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgGrameen-Jameel Is Strengthening Microfinance in the Middle Easthttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/grameen-jameel-strengthening-microfinance-middle-east
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Alex Counts is president, CEO and founder of Grameen Foundation, and author of several books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Small-Loans-Big-Dreams-Microfinance/dp/0470196327?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1206734471&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance are Changing the World</a>.</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/social-business" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social business</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:04:15 +0000stoptime2476 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgProf. Yunus Visits Haiti – an Update from Alex Countshttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/prof-yunus-visits-haiti-%E2%80%93-update-alex-counts
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Alex Counts is president, CEO and founder of Grameen Foundation, and author of several books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Small-Loans-Big-Dreams-Microfinance/dp/0470196327?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1206734471&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance are Changing the World</a>.</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/danone" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Danone</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-danone" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Danone</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-5" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/social-business" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social business</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-6" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/social-performance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social performance</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-7" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:48:41 +0000stoptime2469 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgWorking Together to Improve the Microfinance Sectorhttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/working-together-improve-microfinance-sector
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Alex Counts is president, CEO and founder of Grameen Foundation, and author of several books, including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Small-Loans-Big-Dreams-Microfinance/dp/0470196327?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1206734471&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance are Changing the World</a>.</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/social-performance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social performance</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:02:45 +0000stoptime2467 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgAn Update on Professor Yunushttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/update-professor-yunus
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Professor Muhammad Yunus recently paid a visit to Grameen Foundation headquarters, meeting with leaders and speaking to staff (as well as to staff from <a href="http://www.results.org/" target="_blank">RESULTS</a>) during a visit to Washington, DC. Todd Bernhardt, Grameen Foundation’s Director of Marketing and Communications, was part of an audience who listened to Professor Muhammad Yunus speak, and provides this update on his recent activities.</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/social-business" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social business</a></li></ul></div>Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:05:21 +0000stoptime2462 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgSummary of Recent Issues Surrounding Grameen Bank and Prof. Yunushttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/summary-recent-issues-surrounding-grameen-bank-and-prof-yunus
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>A network of people who support Grameen Bank and its founder, microfinance pioneer Professor Muhammad Yunus, has put together a short, factual summary of the recent confrontation between Professor Yunus/Grameen Bank and the Bangladesh government. It’s meant to be a quick read that will help people separate fact from fiction, with plenty of links to key documents for those who want to dig deeper. There has been much misinformation circulated in the media and around the web about these issues, so we hope this will prove to be a reference that people can easily share, to enable supporter</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/social-business" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social business</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:02:53 +0000stoptime2452 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgStatement from Alex Counts on the resignation of Prof. Muhammad Yunushttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/statement-alex-counts-resignation-prof-muhammad-yunus
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Statement from Alex Counts, President and CEO of Grameen Foundation, on the resignation of microfinance pioneer Professor Muhammad Yunus, winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize and founder of Grameen Bank</em>.</p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/social-business" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social business</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Fri, 13 May 2011 11:38:08 +0000stoptime2449 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgStatement of Prof. Yunus Regarding His Removal from Grameen Bankhttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/statement-prof-yunus-regarding-his-removal-grameen-bank
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em><strong>Statement of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus on the Occasion of Supreme Court Verdict on May 5, 2011 Regarding His Removal from Grameen Bank.</strong> Professor Yunus voiced his concern after <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110507/wl_sthasia_afp/bangladeshmicrofinancebankingyunuspoverty_20110507124819" target="_blank">revelations surfaced surrounding violence against employee leaders</a> of the Bank. Those interested may also want to read in <a href="http://grameen.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=1020&amp;Itemid=924" target="_blank">the Bank's point-by-point refutation</a> of the allegations brought up in the government's Review Committee report, as well as by the nation's government-aligned media.<br /></em></p>
<p>You have already heard the verdict from the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>Why did I appear before the Court? Why did I want to contest the order of Bangladesh Bank? Why there is so much concern about this issue at home and abroad? There may be some confusion regarding these questions. Please allow me to share my feelings with you to remove this confusion. I went to the Court for a specific reason. Bangladesh Bank sent a letter to Grameen Bank, removing me from my post as Managing Director of Grameen Bank. The letter also mentioned that I held this position for the last eleven years illegally. Bangladesh Bank did this without giving me a chance to explain my position. I felt that this letter was not legally correct, and through this letter, not only was I been wronged, but so was Grameen Bank. Nine elected members of the Board of Directors of Grameen Bank felt the same way. That is why the nine members of the Board and I filed separate writs in the High Court. We wanted these wrongs to be corrected. Therefore, we had to seek justice through all avenues offered in the Bangladeshi judicial system. This is what we have done.</p>
<p><strong>The fate of 40 million poor people connected to this</strong><br />
In the event that the Honorable Court stated in their final decision that the letter from Bangladesh Bank was issued without lawful authority, I could continue my work with Grameen Bank and make the transition to a capable management as smoothly as possible. But, if the Court verdict went against us, the Board may be forced to take steps to implement the content of the Bangladesh Bank letter. This was the only reason for me to take this matter to the Court. I had no option but to seek justice in this matter.</p>
<p>It is indeed a much wider and much more significant issue to save the future of Grameen Bank and also to protect the hopes and dreams of the over 8 million borrowers. These borrowers are also the owners of 96.5% of the Bank’s shares. The Bank is connected with 40 million microcredit borrowers in Bangladesh, and its impact on all these people cannot be neglected. What happens to Grameen Bank influences the future of the millions of Bangladeshis who benefit from microcredit activities, as well as the future of the institution of microcredit itself. It is actually a great concern for me, and many others, that I properly fulfill my responsibility to safeguard their future before and after leaving the post of Managing Director of Grameen Bank.</p>
<p>Some have said that, instead of going to the court, it would have been more honorable for me to resign from my position as suggested by the Finance Minister. I do not think so. In that case, the end result would have been the same, so far as my exit is concerned. But I would have suffered from carrying the guilt of knowingly accepting an unexpected proposal and putting the borrowers and their families’ futures at risk. I could not do that.</p>
<p>[caption id="attachment_1665" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Millions of borrowers like the ones seen meeting above could be adversely affected by a government takeover of Grameen Bank."]<a href="http://grameenfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/borrowers-circle.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1665" title="borrower's circle" src="http://grameenfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/borrowers-circle.jpg?w=300" alt="Millions of borrowers like the ones seen meeting above could be adversely affected by a government takeover of Grameen Bank." width="300" height="172" /></a>[/caption]</p>
<p>Some people felt that I intend to cling to the position of Managing Director of Grameen Bank. But, the nation knows that this position is not my life’s goal. I was, and am, conscious of the fact that my future work will not be based on my holding on to this position, but rather, it would be working with the young generation, from other platforms to address the problem of poverty at home and abroad. I want to do that without jeopardizing the interests of Grameen Bank. This is the thought which prompted me to write the letter to the Honorable Finance Minister one year ago. I suggested two options to him for a transition that could take place without creating any waves within the Bank. I did not get any response to these proposals. I was, instead, told to quit. It is, therefore, unfair to me to suggest that I am holding on to the of position of managing director unjustly or to allege that I am not co-operating in the process of transition.</p>
<p>For the last few months, a section of the media devoted itself fiercely to campaign against me, Grameen Bank, and the concept of microcredit. Everyone has his own explanation why this is happening.</p>
<p><strong>An unfriendly atmosphere is not helpful for a smooth change of leadership</strong><br />
The cause of my concerns, as well as those of the nation and the world, lies here. These concerns are more for Grameen Bank and the future of its millions of borrowers, than for me. For this reason, I have been reminding you repeatedly that undertaking the transition process of Grameen Bank's management in an unfriendly environment will only cause harm to the future of the Bank. I have always wanted to make sure that the transition takes place in a friendly, mutually supportive environment, so that the achievements of Grameen Bank may continue without interruption. There are many issues related to this. The big questions are: whether Grameen Bank can maintain its independent existence, and whether it can be successful in keeping itself away from political influences. What actually happens to financial institutions in our country if political influences start playing a role in these institutions is common knowledge. This experience will not inspire trust in the borrowers. We all know how important the role of trust is in the operation of Grameen Bank.</p>
</div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/business-models" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">business models</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/social-business" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social business</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Sat, 07 May 2011 18:39:39 +0000stoptime2448 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgTwo Steps Backward for Innovation to End Povertyhttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/two-steps-backward-innovation-end-poverty
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>A guest post from Sam Daley-Harris, Founder of the <a href="http://www.microcreditsummit.org" target="_blank">Microcredit Summit Campaign</a>, which seeks to reach 175 million poorest families with micro-loans, and of <a href="http://www.results.org" target="_blank">RESULTS</a>, which seeks to create the political will to end poverty.</em></p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/danone" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Danone</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/social-business" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">social business</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-4" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd even"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 05 May 2011 19:46:03 +0000stoptime2447 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgAn Update on Grameen Bankhttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/update-grameen-bank
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Alex Counts is president, CEO and founder of Grameen Foundation, and author of several books, including </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Small-Loans-Big-Dreams-Microfinance/dp/0470196327?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1206734471&amp;sr=1-1" target="_blank">Small Loans, Big Dreams: How Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance are Changing the World.</a> The ongoing saga of the confrontation between the Bangladesh government and its allies in the local media on the one hand, and Professor Yunus, the Grameen Bank and its 8.3 million borrower-owners on the other, has taken some su</p></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:15:23 +0000stoptime2445 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgWill the Government of Bangladesh Ruin Grameen Bank?http://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/will-government-bangladesh-ruin-grameen-bank
<div class="body text-secondary"><p><em>Barbara Weber, who worked at Grameen Foundation from 2002 to 2006, was a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar in Bangladesh and is now working on her Ph.D. in depth psychology.</em></p>
<p>Bangladesh went from being dubbed the world’s basket case in 1973 by former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to becoming a beacon of development innovation that the rest of the world has since sought to emulate, thanks in large measure to its pioneering in microfinance. This renown is fast turning to infamy, however, as political vendetta cannibalizes the very source of the nation’s well-deserved pride.</p>
<p>The country’s acclaim reached a crescendo in 2006, when the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Grameen Bank and its founder, Professor Muhammad Yunus, for creating a system that has enabled the poor to pull themselves up by their boot straps. It has done this so effectively that its microfinance model has been studied exhaustively and replicated around the world.</p>
<p>What ensued next seems to have won Yunus the ire of the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. In 2007, the newly ordained Nobel laureate made a fleeting and ill-fated foray into politics in a vacuum that was created when a military-backed interim government began jailing operatives of the country’s top political parties. Sheikh Hasina herself was temporarily in exile and charged with masterminding crime.</p>
<p>[caption id="attachment_1599" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Prof. Yunus and most of the Board directors who represent the borrower-owners of Grameen Bank tour the streets of Oslo the day before receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006."]<a href="http://grameenfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/yunusandwomennobelprize-02.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1599 " title="YunusAndWomenNobelPrize-02" src="http://grameenfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/yunusandwomennobelprize-02.jpg?w=300" alt="Prof. Yunus and most of the Board directors who represent the borrower-owners of Grameen Bank tour the streets of Oslo the day before receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006." width="300" height="195" /></a>[/caption]</p>
<p>Some saw this as a potential turning point for a country that had topped Transparency International’s list of the most corrupt governments in the world. Bangladesh was number-one on that list for five consecutive years. But when national elections were held in 2008, Sheikh Hasina – who had held the post of prime minister from 1996 to 2001 – again took office. Now, she and her party in power seem intent on systematically dismantling Grameen Bank.</p>
<p>In apparent collusion with the current government, the country’s highest court recently upheld the ouster of Grameen Bank’s founder as managing director. The Supreme Court will have one more opportunity to review the case in a ruling that is due on May 2. In the meantime, Prof. Yunus remains managing director of the Bank while the world watches attentively and awaits Bangladesh’s next move.</p>
</div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/women" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">women</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Yunus</a></li></ul></div>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:35:50 +0000stoptime2442 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgDay Six: Old Friends and Off to the Airporthttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/day-six-old-friends-and-airport
<div class="body text-secondary"><p>My last day in the country was the beginning of the Bangladeshi weekend – Friday. That meant somewhat less traffic, a blessing to be sure. I spent three hours, starting at 10am, with my former research assistant, Abdul Mannan Talukdar. He is the first Area Manager in the history of Grameen who started as a loan officer (a position now called “center manager”). He is immensely proud of that, as he should be. An area manager oversees 8-10 branches, each of which are staffed by about seven staff (almost always including a university-educated branch manager) and serves several thousand clients. He told me about his journey, culminating in that historic promotion, dating from when I last saw him, in 2006.</p>
</div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/travel" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">travel</a></li></ul></div>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:00:06 +0000stoptime2352 at http://www.grameenfoundation.orgDay Five: Back in the Grameen Headquartershttp://www.grameenfoundation.org/blog/day-five-back-grameen-headquarters
<div class="body text-secondary"><p>I arrived at the Grameen Complex at 10:30am on Thursday, after having visited my old dentist (who does quality work for a fraction of the price charged back home). Before I began my first meeting, I noticed the almost frenetic activity around me in each office I entered. My good friend Mir Akhtar Hossain, who heads Dr. Yunus’ person staff, was so busy he could barely catch up with me – much less indulge in our traditional lunch of chicken biryani down the road in Mirpur One. Even after thirty-three years in existence, complacency has hardly taken root in the Grameen family of companies.</p>
</div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above field-wrapper clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Tags: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/alex-counts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Alex Counts</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-1" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd"><a href="/tags/grameen-bank" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Grameen Bank</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-2" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even"><a href="/tags/muhammad-yunus" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muhammad Yunus</a></li><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-3" rel="dc:subject" class="field-item even odd even odd"><a href="/tags/travel" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">travel</a></li></ul></div>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:44:00 +0000stoptime2351 at http://www.grameenfoundation.org